Sure, Brookhart is a gambler. Current and upcoming items on his calendar: He's a husband, father to two adopted girls from China, dean of students at Cherry Creek, and master organizer awaiting his second round of balancing offseason workouts that he first tasted in February, when he was a surprise football hire at the state's most visible setting.

"I feel good, I feel strong," Brookhart said Monday, when he began his work day at school, then drove to Invesco Field at Mile High for a news conference, returned to school, spent time in his dean's office, then got ready for practice and a film session, mostly with a cell phone in hand and a computer screen within sight.

Jeff Sweet knows what Brookhart is feeling.

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Two years ago, Sweet ended a seven-year run doubling in both sports for Gateway in Aurora.

"I'll bet he's not tired now," Sweet said. "What's great about it is that his football team is playing Saturday for a state championship, then turns it around for a basketball game. Not many guys can say they do that."

More common in lower classifications, heading Colorado's two most popular boys sports is more demanding in 5A with the number of participants and games, and extensive offseason programs. Officially, football began Aug. 11. Brookhart's first year at the helm will last the maximum, into Saturday. If his basketball team, which was state runnerup in 2005, makes the final, it will be March 14.

Then the dual-sport training begins with weight-room sessions and running that quickly evolve into camps and summer leagues, meetings . . . good thing he gave up baseball scouting for the Orioles and Reds.

Brookhart insists he doesn't need a clone. He'll settle for the trust of his assistants and Bruins talent that churns out multisport competitors.

"I enjoy the coaching and the kids," Brookhart, 48, said. "It's a challenge that I really enjoy."

Sweet did, too. He planned it for three years, got "toasty" after five, then had two more. He continues in boys basketball.

"Be careful with your health," Sweet said. "I never saw a negative to it, but everyone around you thought you must be foolish."

Brookhart's father, Jack, a longtime in-state figure, joked his son was "certifiable" for attempting it, but is a proud and productive addition to a Bruins staff of 16. Brookhart's wife, Lyndal, was first on board.

"It's a wonderful thing when you can do your passion and affect the lives of kids," she said.

The Brookharts know doubling. They were assistant principals at Heritage in Littleton, where Mike also coached, before adopting infants now age 6 and 4. Lyndal directs human resources for the Cherry Creek district and brings the girls to school for dinner. Home is within a mile, even if Dad seems light years away.

"I couldn't do this without them," he said. "(And with Jack on staff) it's very special."

Athletic director Randy McCall talked with Brookhart, formerly a 10-year football assistant, last winter and quickly realized his seven-year basketball coach was game.

"There's not a whole lot in his life that is a hobby to him other than coaching," McCall said. "He has his family. They travel a bit. He doesn't golf or fish, doesn't read a whole lot of books, doesn't go to movies . . . he coaches and likes being around kids, does a great job of developing relationships with them and, because of that, will be successful in any sport."

Two-way Bruins back T.J. Shantz has noticed a calmer Brookhart, ordinarily one of the state's more animated sideline figures, taking it in stride.

"He's more relaxed in football," the senior said. "He likes to be a part of it all."

A victory Saturday would be Cherry Creek's first football title since 1996, an accomplishment the former Bruins three-sporter never attained. Despite the grueling schedule, Brookhart doesn't see a need to change anything.

"It's a tremendous learning experience," he said. "I'm finding out a lot about myself."

One-day event to run slide down University HillIt's not quite the alternative mode of transportation that Boulder's used to, but, for one day this summer, residents will be able to traverse several city blocks atop inflatable tubes.